Selection Phase

SAASTA invited all schools with a keen interest in debating – but in this instance from a scientific stance – to submit a speech in different formats i.e. essay, video clip and a voice note based on a given topic that was selected by SAASTA. Selected on the basis of their winning speeches, SAASTA chose the top 10 schools per province to compete in the provincial competition.

Provincial Workshops

SAASTA together with Word Wise Media organised a facilitator’s workshop to train the facilitators in becoming mentors for the schools in their respective provinces. After a successful facilitator’s workshop that was held in Cape Town on the 12 March 2016, the qualifying schools per province attended a provincial workshops in their respective provinces on the 16 April 2016. The objectives of the workshops were to train the learners on the debating style, research methodology and the use of social media to promote the project.

Provincial Competitions

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells were in the minds and on the lips of many school learners during the month of May, competing with one another in the hope of representing their provinces in the National finals. The top 10 schools per province debated on the potential and the importance of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology (HFCT).

Topic

Do you think HFCT can improve the quality of the life for all South Africans by contributing significantly to the national energy supply or is HFCT more applicable in industry specific local applications?

Provincial Winners

SAASTA would like to congratulate all the schools that made it through to the National SAASTA Schools Debates Final that will be held on 6 October 2016 in Gauteng.

Province

Winner

Runners Up

2nd Runners Up

Kwazulu Natal

Solvista Secondary School

Wingen Heights Secondary School

Verulam Secondary School

Free State

Hentie Cilliers High School

Bethlehem Voortrekker High School

Welkom High School

Limpopo

Dendron Secondary School

Taxila Secondary School

Thengwe Secondary School

Western Cape

Cravenby Secondary School

Bellville High School

Parklands College

Mpumalanga

Mashising Secondary School

Lowveld High School

Dlomodlomo Secondary School

North West

Potchefstroom Girls High

Lebone College II of the Royal Bafokeng

Zinniaville High School

Gauteng

Randfontein High School

Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls

Mondeor High

Northern Cape

Kimberley Girls High School

Northern Cape High School

Kimberley Boys High

Eastern Cape

Queens Boys College

Hudson Park High School

Holy Cross High School

National Competition

The SAASTA National Debates Competition was hosted on the 6 October 2016 at St Georges Hotel in Pretoria. The room was filled with so much excitement and nervousness at the same time, as the nine (9) teams took to the stage presenting their arguments on the use of biotechnology in combating food security in South African households. Later in the evening the winners were announced at the award function that was organised by SAASTA to award and acknowledge all participants.

Winners

Randfontein High School (Gauteng)

Second Place

Cravenby Secondary School (Western Cape)

Third Place

Contact

OVERVIEW

The South Africa Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) is a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF) with the mandate to advance public awareness, appreciation and engagement of science, engineering, innovation and technology in South Africa. Find out more